Tuesday 8 December 2009

The Red Shoes

The Red ShoesI first saw this pair of shoes while I was out shopping with Nicky a few weekends ago and I wasn't able to get their loveliness out of my head. I'm very wary of pretty lady shoes (I live in Cons) as I'm a size seven and am not the daintiest of people. I've never been able to wear a pair of high heels for longer than an hour without moaning about my feet aching or without developing painful ball-of-the-foot blisters. So when I saw these glorious red patent shoes in Schuh I immediately dismissed the idea that they would ever be mine.

Whenever I've bought lady shoes in the past I've always needed to buy them in a size eight (and once in a nine) as my feet are quite wide so for a comfy-as-possible fit I go for the next size up. The thing is, not many places stock size eights and above. It's normally a case of 'We can order them in for you' but to be honest you want to try the shoes on before you pay for them and you want to try them on there. In the shop. Plea to shoe shops - please carry size eights and above. Most of you have them in storage somewhere but please don't be feetist against the larger footed ladies!

Anyway, after spending too much of my life thinking about The Red Shoes, last week I Googled about and discovered that they are available in red, black and navy blue but they only go up to size sevens in the red. I nearly ordered them online but I wanted to make sure that a seven would fit. So at the weekend I dragged Chris into Schuh in Cambridge and showed him The Red Shoes. Sensibly he said that the black would be more practical and would go with more things. I reluctantly agreed, knowing that they didn't have an eight in the red anyway so I asked the sales assistant if I could try on a seven and an eight in the black.

About five minutes later she reappeared carrying a pair of the red ones and said to me 'We haven't got any sevens or eights in stock in the black but you could try these red sevens and if you like we can order the black ones in for you?' so that is what I did. I was wearing striped socks (very attractive while trying on lady shoes) and even with those on The Red Shoes fit me. I looked in the mirror and instantly fell in love with them. Chris gave me the thumbs up and the sales assistant nodded with a big grin on her face! It was like in the movies when the lady tries on the absolutely right wedding dress and everyone just knows it's perfect. Yes, it was like that but with shoes.

The Red ShoesAnd that was it. The Red Shoes were mine. And they're a size seven. And they don't have a high spindly heel but a slightly chunkier one instead so I shouldn't get blisters. I wore them on the walk home from town to Chris's (that's quite a walk) and only had minor, normal new shoe rubbage. They do up with satin ribbons which makes me think of tap shoes. I always wanted to do tap dancing as a kid but Mum said no as I think she knew that I only wanted to do it because of the shoes. But the best thing of all is, and you can't see this in the early morning light of the pictures, they have a very fine, subtle copper-coloured glitter in them which gives them a beautiful shimmer. Amazing!

19 comments:

  1. Ohhhh cool shoes - sometimes you just have to have them. Doesn't matter if they won't go with as much as the black ones. These are made to be noticed!!!

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  2. Those are very beautiful... Do you keep bursting into 'Somewhere over the rainbow'? I know I would!!

    Love

    Lesley
    xx

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  3. These are proper Lady shoes and sooo beautiful as well, you are dead brave for buying them and I bet they look amazing with jeans?! xxx

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  4. OOOhhh!!!! very lubbly indeed, I also have a penchant for red shoes I got myself a pair of red boots a few winters back, and one silver lining of winter is I get to wear my red boots :)

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  5. I love red shoes
    and this pair is wonderful!
    I just go and have a look if they are available in Germany...
    greetings from
    Bettina

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  6. OMG they are gorgeous simply gorgeous. I want them...no I need them...toddles off to look on internet. I so have shoe envy :)

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  7. Those are WICKED COOL shoes! I would say that it was a sign that they didn't have the sensible color in your size! I love them. I think that everyone needs a funky pair of red shoes in their closet...makes me think that I need to get a pair of my own. Thanks for sharing. Enjoy the day! Erin

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  8. Wow! You'll never have to walk home again, just click your heels together and say 'there's no place like home...' They are very beautiful, I see why you fell in love with them.

    Brilliant - my word verification is derierr - hehe!

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  9. Beautiful Shoes, the kind that make you feel happy just putting them on! I too have hooge footsies, I was less successful on my latest venture after wearing gents shoes/trainers for the last however many years I was determined to buy some lady shoes, nothing online or at the shops, as it was I fell in love with another pair of gents trainers...not ready for the change yet!

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  10. Oooh! They are lovely! I hate shoe shopping as I've got size 7/8 feet too and never seem to find anything that doesn't make my feet seem enormous and wasn't made for women twice my age. I think I may have to give Schuh a try!

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  11. Every girl should have a pair of red shoes!

    I have a pair of red patent flats which I have never worn! Their buckles have tarnished and my feet (would you believe it) have grown up a size since I got them. But I'm the type of person who buys shoes because they are beautiful and then keeps them in their boxes unworn (I've got a similar thing about beads!)Since I hit my forties, I transformed from a flats only woman to a high heel obsessive.

    One piece of advice I can give you: Never, ever economise on shoes. Buy the most expensive ones you can afford. Well constructed shoes and soft leather should never give you blisters no matter how high the heel.

    And when I see red shoes, I don't think of Dorothy but the wonderful film of the same name. Enjoy, Laura!

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  12. Absolutely gorgeous! I wouldn't have been able to stop thinking about them either until they were mine. :-)
    I don't do lady shoes but have a pair of hush puppies too, they are sooooo comfy.

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  13. Oooh yes, they look lovely.
    That reminded me that many moons ago I was the proud owner of two pairs of red shoes. Only thing is...one morning I was waiting at a bus stop and realised that I was wearing one from each pair!
    Enjoy them!
    Jill

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  14. Awesome awesome awesome! I LOVE those shoes! And I am so glad you got them! I hate being practical and I love the funky and those shoes are fabulous!

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  15. Woah! Everyone loves The Red Shoes!

    It would appear that we're all a bunch of shoe nerds. And that can only be a good thing!

    Thanks for all the fab comments. I'm wearing the shoes right now. I'm not going anywhere and I look silly as I'm wearing jeans and a sweater but I just wanted to wear my beautiful shoes!

    Somehow I think you'll all understand that .....

    Laura x

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  16. They say there's always the love of your life, the dog of your life and, I think, there really are the shoes of your life. Mine were dark red suede with rounded toes, a bit of a platform and a highish heel - I loved them and remember them still (too many) years later. Actually, when I think about it now, they would probably suit Miss Piggy but, hey, she's got taste!

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  17. I LOVE THOSE SHOES....OFF TO BUY A PAIR IN RED RIGHT NOW.....XXXXXX

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  18. yummy yummy red shoes...love them, I got some red patent sandels over the summer and liked them and wore them so much that I went out and got two more pairs of them in red again so I would never be out of them, if I wear a pair of them old, I have another one next season even though the store wont...have to take a photo and send it to you...but these are so much more yummier than mine...

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  19. Ooh, they are gorgeous. Problem is I share the wardrobe with DH and he could know if more shoes were added as they are already creeping into his side.

    I have the opposite problem; I take a 4 but I might be a 3 or a 2! No one makes lovely adult shoes in 3 or 2 it seems.

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